"That comes down to 2.4 million people in regional Australia saying that they know of a family where children aren't being cared for properly because of alcohol use," he said.

"It's spread right across the range.

"We're talking about families where they may be down the lower end of the low socio-economic spectrum or they may be on the upper end. It's right across the board."

He says some people have no idea that their drinking is having an effect on their children.

"There are significant numbers of people in regional and rural Australia and remote Australian communities where alcohol is having a major negative impact on family life," he said.

"It leads to things like breakdowns of relationships within families and separation within families, violence, family finances being diverted from the purchase of basic family needs like food and shelter.

You have no doubt been hearing a lot about the Paris Agreement and know that it pertains to climate change, but are too embarrassed at this stage to ask for an overall explanation of what it's all about.